Having virtually OD'd on Blood & Fire compact discs during the 90s and 00s, I cooled a bit in more recent years. However, I'm back on the kick, picking discs at random (they've got their own section in the rack) over the last few days. I'm listening to the quite tasty Heavyweight2 sampler, which, as any B&Foo kno, features several tracks unavailable elsewhere.

I was put to mind of the controversy when the label became CD only and Barrow's passionate, logically argued defence of the move in the face of some pretty severe criticism.

Which further led me to consider the re-launched BAF. Any further noise about that and is Intro going to be responsible for the look?

looks like steve barrow will not be involved with the re launch, not sure at this point if vp will be get the catalogue re assigned with out steve's help, guidance and knowledge.there should be more official news soon but from what i know vp have failed to provide robust terms in the deals offered for artists, producers & for steve.

It's a shame things haven't worked out as I was looking forward to Steve releasing some great previously rare stuff from the vaults. Not sure how VP can proceed with any realistic chance of success without Steve's involvement?

Wow Dom, is that true? If so, that's very frustrating. I thought the idea was to get as much of the B&F back catalogue in circulation again, and hopefully some new releases would follow. Steve told me that any new B&F sets would be mastered by Kevin Metcalfe, so hopefully we can expect the great sound quality we know and love. However, it's all conjecture until VP or Steve tells us more. It would be nice to have some more definite news...

Disappointing news if true - though I can understand the importance of upholding B&F's legacy of fairness toward artists and producers involved in making the music to begin with. Hopefully things can be resolved - I don't think it can truly be called Blood & Fire without Steve's involvement.

"After a period of negotiation, it has transpired that both parties - Steve Barrow & VP - could not reach an accord over terms. Therefore Steve Barrow will not be working with VP on the proposed relaunch of B&F."

This is very disappointing news as I had been wishing we would get new Blood & Fire albums in the coming years. And I don't want VP to move forward without Steve Barrow and just cashing in on the B & F name.

I truly hope that B&F could get financially back on its feet and Steve could continue where the label left off in the early 2000s. It would be heavenly to get new albums of the same great quality again, some rare old reggae reissued like it should be.

Dubster10 wrote:I truly hope that B&F could get financially back on its feet and Steve could continue where the label left off in the early 2000s. It would be heavenly to get new albums of the same great quality again, some rare old reggae reissued like it should be.

Record buyers have been replaced by file downloaders and streamers. How do you expect an organization like B&F to make enough money with soundcloud-type of revenues? It's those **** that have killed indie labels even more so than pirates...

guillaumebougard wrote:Record buyers have been replaced by file downloaders and streamers. How do you expect an organization like B&F to make enough money with soundcloud-type of revenues? It's those **** that have killed indie labels even more so than pirates...

Well there are other small reissue labels that get by even though they don't sell a lot, like Finders Keepers - I don't think their obscure B-music has ever sold as much as Blood & Fire albums did, but they keep on going. And Sublime Frequencies, Analog Africa, Soundway and others. I think there's a way to do it, especially considering how much old international music has been reissued in high quality in recent years by labels that didn't even exist during the heyday of B&F (like Honest Jon's, Dust To Digital, Tompkins Square etc.)

guillaumebougard wrote:Record buyers have been replaced by file downloaders and streamers. How do you expect an organization like B&F to make enough money with soundcloud-type of revenues? It's those **** that have killed indie labels even more so than pirates...

Despite starting at a low point (21,000 units), year-on-year record sales have quadrupled in the past 5 years, almost doubling 2012-13 to 78,000 units! It's still niche, but Downloads + Vinyl = Future of the Market.

As far as B&F is concerned, the label could exist without Steve Barrow, but the fact that he can't/won't join up with VP's plan is not a good sign.

guillaumebougard wrote:Record buyers have been replaced by file downloaders and streamers. How do you expect an organization like B&F to make enough money with soundcloud-type of revenues? It's those **** that have killed indie labels even more so than pirates...

Well there are other small reissue labels that get by even though they don't sell a lot, like Finders Keepers - I don't think their obscure B-music has ever sold as much as Blood & Fire albums did, but they keep on going. And Sublime Frequencies, Analog Africa, Soundway and others. I think there's a way to do it, especially considering how much old international music has been reissued in high quality in recent years by labels that didn't even exist during the heyday of B&F (like Honest Jon's, Dust To Digital, Tompkins Square etc.)

Yes probably, I guess I should have said that the days of operations where the label was the only source of revenues are over. Now you need to add other sources, I guess.

One thing is how promotion has changed, I for one never was able to get into the online thing, facebook, twitter, etc... I cant do that like some people I've seen. That is why I hardly put out anything any more I guess.

It's hard to have sympathy for a record label or an artist who won't keep up with the current formats.

The music industry has killed itself by over pricing it's product for years everyone wants to be a millionaire

If I could make a living out of selling music I would consider myself the luckiest person alive, but so many people want to be a super star.

I can't see the difference between dwnloads and physical formats except that downloads must be cheaer to produce than physical products no packaging no transport no storage no stock, so surley there must be more profit in it

I can't see the difference between streaming and radio

Record lables have made so much money over the years I remember buying war in Babylon on CD and it cost me 18 pounds what a fricking rip off 18 pounds that was four hours wages for me at the time no CD is worth that